Sunday, June 26, 2011

06/26/2011
The string of ratings upgrade that the country received the past few days appears to be teasers for Noynoy to persuade him to push forward the breaking of his pledge of no new taxes or tax increases.

Already, Noynoy had stated that taxes will be increased in 2013, saying that the pledge for new taxes was only for a year.

Plagiarizing the elder and the better George H.W. Bush during his 1988 US presidential campaign, Noynoy boasted “Read my lips, no new taxes” during his own campaign in the elections last year to stress his politician’s vow.

After being elected, he was already singing a different tune saying that the new taxes or tax increases pledge was only effective for his first year in office and which means it will effectively expire this month..... MORE

06/26/2011
Miffed at former President Gloria Arroyo’s blast of Noynoy’s “nobody home” presidency, along with her stating that Noynoy has not built on the economic gains made, Malacañang quickly put its dukes up and said it was ready for a fight with Gloria.

But Noynoy’s deputy mouthpiece, Abigail Valte, charged that Gloria’s blurbs against her patron, Noynoy, are “unsurprising” and full of generalizations, and that they in the Palace give specific answers.

Yet in was clear that even as Valte was slamming Gloria, she failed to answer directly what which was being charged, such as the 10-year economic growth toward sustainability that certainly has decelerated under Noynoy’s presidency.

For all that Gloria is, and is not, what cannot be denied and official data can attest to that, is that it was under her presidency that there was uninterrupted growth and that the first quarter growth this year under Noynoy, has slowed, with the economy expected to slow down some more..... MORE

06/26/2011
After saying something about the lamentable and distressing syndrome called “Asperger’s Disorder,” what comes to mind in the context of words and sounds is the term “Aspersion.”
In its more common understanding, aspersion is a reproach, a censure, a depreciation.

Aspersion is in a way understandable when the object of contempt is vile, obnoxious and revolting. But when something is virtuous, noble and lofty, its aspersion is not only a big shame but also a downright abomination.

And the Malacañang occupant plus his loyal cohorts and obedient allies are now avidly engaging in “kadiri to death” aspersion on the endearing presence of children, on the profound blessing of family and the big wonder of human sexuality, Malacañang plus buddies in the legislature and comrades among the NGOs, are bent on pushing and selling the following hideous agenda: Hate children (Reproductive Health bill). Destroy families (Divorce bill). Debase sex (Same Sex Marriage bill).

Poor Philippines. Pitiful Filipinos. It is not enough that the country is going nowhere in commerce and industry. It is neither enough that the Filipinos are wallowing more and more in poverty and misery. Nor it is enough that the national leadership talks but does little. Thus it is that: Development is but a pie in the sky. Better living conditions are simply a big drawing. Justice and peace are merely dreams and more dreams..... MORE

06/26/2011
WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama declared Wednesday that although battered by a decade of war America should not shrink into isolationism but remain pragmatic and open to foreign intervention.

Announcing the start of the US drawdown from Afghanistan, Obama acknowledged the heavy cost of America’s overseas adventures as he sought to reassure a war-weary public the “tide of war is receding.”

Under pressure from Congress over continued US involvement in the three-month-old air war in Libya, the President stood firm and warned against caving in to those questioning the nature of America’s foreign engagements.

“Some would have America retreat from our responsibility as an anchor of global security, and embrace an isolation that ignores the very real threats that we face,” he said. “Others would have America over-extend ourselves, confronting every evil that can be found abroad.”.... MORE

06/26/2011
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is urging President P-Noy to certify as priority legislation that would uplift the plight and labor conditions of the kasambahays or the 2.5 million domestic helpers in the country. Senate Bill 78, also known as the “Freedom Charter for the Household Workers,’’ is long overdue, perhaps as far back as time immemorial, for as long as there have been family households, kitchens to mind, dirty linens to launder, living rooms to tidy up, kids and elderly to watch over and care for.

To further neglect their plight in terms of minimal working conditions and benefits that rightfully belong to them is already “immoral” or a “sin of omission” on the part of the government and the legislators. We hope that the urgency of this bill evades the perceived dilly-dallying or indecisiveness of this administration!

The bill recently approved by the Senate defines household workers as maids, cooks, yayas and houseboys. In Metro Manila their compensation shall be pegged at P2,500 as monthly minimum wage, while those in chartered cities will receive P2,000. It is noted that some household workers receive salaries as low as P800 per month! This is aside from the present and post-employment benefits from the Social Security System (SSS), Phil-Health and Pag-IBIG fund which respective premiums shall be paid for by the employers..... MORE

06/26/2011
After dumping rains and causing major floods in various parts of the country, including Metro Manila, tropical storm “Falcon” left Philippine territory early yesterday and is moving further away toward China with its full strengh intact.

Nearly 90,000 people were forced to flee their homes due to floods caused by Falcon, with 15 persons listed as missing, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) yesterday said.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned that rains brought by the southwest monsoon will still fall over Metro Manila.

While Falcon only brushed the eastern side of the country, it still brought torrential rain for most of the week..... MORE

The Aquino-Arroyo battle royale raged on yesterday as the Palace dared the camp of former President Arroyo to bring it on amid her allegations of the lack of leadership of Aquino, while a key Arroyo ally challenged the administration to face head on the issues raised by the current Pampanga representative in the House.

Presidential deputy spokesman Abigail Valte said yesterday the former President’s attacks against Aquino was designed to “deflect attention from her refusing to submit to proper procedures for ascertaining accountability.”

“We’ve been parrying the attacks of former President Arroyo’s camp for too long now but this time we are hitting back. We are ready,” Valte said in response to Mrs. Arroyo’s claim that the Aquino administration supposedly did not build on the gains of her administration but eroded them instead.

Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay, an ally of Arroyo, however, claimed it is the Palace that is diverting the people’s attention from its failure to address the country’s pressing concerns, adding the Aquino administration should face head-on the issues raised by Arroyo..... MORE

It took Asian conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) to get the President Aquino’s Private-Public Partnership (PPP) initiative going with the inauguration of the renovated Caticlan Airport at a cost of $300 million or P13.5 billion that SMC unit TransAire Development Holdings Corp. is undertaking.

Aquino led yesterday’s inauguration of the airport, which serves as gateway to the world renowned Boracay beaches, saying that it will pave the way for more tourism opportunities for the country.

He said the development of the Caticlan Airport will bring long-term economic benefits for the country, particularly by creating more jobs for the people in the tourism sector. These developments in the Caticlan Airport will make tourists more comfortable, according to the President.

SMC president Ramon Ang said the $300 million investment will cover all developments, including the expansion of the runway, terminal, convention center, commercial centers and hotels. Ang said setting up complete tourism facilities would assure that the airport will draw in more tourists..... MORE

By Gina Peralta-Elorde 06/26/2011
The Bulacan police are conducting investigation to determine who was the target in the bomb explosion that took place inside the Bulacan provincial jail last Saturday afternoon, police report said.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr., two suspects reportedly climbed at the detention facility’s wall and dropped two hand grenades and two molotov bombs inside the detention cell.

The Bulacan police are looking into an angle that the two suspects who hurled the two bombs are targeting Alfredo Mendiola — a prime witness in the murder of car dealer Venson Evangelista.

06/26/2011
MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan— Twenty houses were partially damaged after a powerful tornado swirled through Meycauayan City and Marilao town as strong winds and heavy rains pounded many parts of Bulacan last Saturday morning.

However, no casualties were reported according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC).

The PDRRMC said that 17 houses were partially damaged in Barangay Bayugo and one in Barangay Bahay Pare in Meycauayan City and two houses were washed out in Barangay Poblacion 1st in nearby Marilao town.

Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado sent a team to assess the total damage wrought by the tornado and provide assistance to the victims..... MORE

06/26/2011
Vice President Jejomar Binay has called on his fellow University of the Philippines alumni awardees to take a proactive stance in helping the university produce more Filipino scholars committed to serving the country.

“As awardees, it becomes our solemn duty to do whatever it is within our individual and collective capacities to raise the State University’s standards to the summit of universal excellence,” Binay said during a special dinner for awardees hosted by UP president Alfredo Pascual.

The Vice President noted that UP alumni could help the university “continue to produce an endless and a more abundant stream of Filipino scholars and patriots worthy of the highest aspirations and hopes of our people and country.”

Binay has been chosen as the UP Alumni Association’s (UPAA) Most Distinguished Alumus for 2011. The Vice President accepted his award yesterday, June 25, at the Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman..... MORE

The country can ultimately achieve sustained food security by ensuring the economic and social well-being of its agriculture and fishery development workers.

This is the logic behind the proposed Magna Carta of Agriculture and Fisheries Development Workers, contained in House Bill 4602, principally authored by Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Macapagal Arroyo and co-authored by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo.

“This bill seeks to accelerate the development and modernization of Philippine agriculture and, more importantly, improve the economic and social well-being as well as their working conditions and employment status of the sector’s workers,” the young Arroyo said.

The Bicol lawmaker added the proposed measure is a companion statute to the landmark Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 (AFMA) which provides the “policies and plans to the continuing modernization and development of the agriculture and fisheries sector amid the ever-changing demands of globalization and food security.”.... MORE